AI Nexus

General Information:

• AI Nexus Hackathon 2026 is a premier innovation-driven hackathon conducted by SRM Connects.
• The event is designed to bring together students, developers, innovators, and AI enthusiasts to build impactful AI-powered solutions for real-world challenges.
• With the theme “Code the Future. Build the Impossible.”, participants will compete through multiple evaluation rounds including screening, technical evaluation, and prototyping before reaching the grand finale demo day.

Eligibility

• Open to:
  • College Students.
  • Engineering Students.
• Participants can register individually or as a team.
• Team size: 2 to 4 members per team.

Team Formation Rules

• Minimum team members: 2.
• Maximum team members: 4.
• Cross-disciplinary teams are encouraged.
• One participant can be part of only one team.

Registration Details

• Registration closes on June 7th, 2026.
• Participants must complete the registration form with:
  • Full Name.
  • Email Address.
  • Phone Number.
  • College/Organization Name.
  • Year of Study.
  • Team Name.
  • Team Member Details.

Hackathon Process & Selection Rounds

Level 0 – Initial Selection - Quiz Round

• Date: June 1st – June 7th.

Process

• Teams will be shortlisted based on:
  • Innovation of idea.
  • Problem-solving approach.
  • Feasibility.
  • Relevance to AI/Technology.

Level 1 – Technical Screening

• Date: June 9th – June 15th.

Process

• Selected teams will undergo technical evaluation.
• Teams may be asked to submit:
  • Project architecture.
  • Tech stack details.
  • Prototype concepts.
  • PPT/Idea presentation.

Evaluation Criteria

• Technical feasibility.
• Scalability.
• Creativity.
• Practical implementation.

Level 2 – Prototyping Phase

• Date: June 19th – June 28th.

Process

• Teams will build and submit working prototypes/MVPs.
• Mentorship and guidance may be provided during this phase.

Deliverables

• Prototype Demo.
• Source Code.
• Presentation Deck.
• Project Documentation.

Grand Finale – Offline Demo Day

• Date: July 18th, 2026.

Format

• Offline final presentation/demo round.
• Finalists will present their projects before judges and industry experts.

Judging Parameters

• Innovation.
• Technical Complexity.
• User Experience.
• Impact & Scalability.
• Presentation Quality.

Prize Pool

• 1st Prize: ₹10,000 + Internship Opportunity.
• 2nd Prize: ₹7,000.
• 3rd Prize: ₹5,000.
• Participation certificates will be provided to all teams.

Rules & Guidelines

• Projects must be original and developed during the hackathon period.
• Plagiarism or copied projects will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Teams must adhere to submission deadlines.
• Any form of malpractice or unethical behavior will result in disqualification.
• Organizers reserve the right to modify schedules or rules if required.
• Participants are responsible for ensuring stable internet connectivity during online rounds.
• Final decision of judges and organizers will be binding.

Submission Requirements

• Participants may be required to submit:
  • Project Abstract.
  • PPT/Presentation.
  • Prototype Demo Link.
  • GitHub Repository.
  • Documentation.
  • Demo Video (if applicable).

Mode of Conduct

• Initial rounds: Online.
• Finale: Offline Demo Day.

Organizer Details

• Conducted by:
  • SRM Connects.